p. 17 | General Conference Proceedings

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 20, 1909

General Conference Proceedings

Fourth Meeting

Friday Morning, 10:30

ELDER G. A. IRWIN in the chair. Prayer by Elder H. Schultz, of California.

The treasurer of the General Conference, Elder I. H. Evans, presented his report for the quadrennial period, Jan. 1, 1905, to Dec. 31, 1908. Brother Evans gave a brief review of the financial situation, and of the financial condition of the various fields at present under the supervision of the General Conference Committee, calling attention to the fact that nearly all the territory now directly operated by this committee consists of the so-called heathen lands, such as Africa, China, India, etc. He said it was the hope of the committee that in due time the contributions of native believers in these fields would be sufficient to support the native workers, but at present these contributions fall far short of doing this. He showed that year by year during the period, the income from the different funds had steadily increased, but on account of the rapid growth of the work the disbursement had correspondingly increased so that the treasury was kept practically empty nearly all of the time. He declared it to be the policy of the committee not to retrench in any department, but on the contrary to extend the work and thus increase the expenditures.

Accompanying his report there was submitted to the delegates an extended statement in detail of all the funds received and expended, accompanied by the auditor's statement vouching for the accuracy of the accounts.

From this statement, it appeared that the total income from all sources during the quadrennial period was $1,655,137.53, while the disbursements for the same period amounted to $1,641,199.55, leaving a balance in the treasury, Dec. 31, 1908, of $13,937.98.

It further developed in the report that at the beginning of the period, the debt of the General Conference, was $47,965.50, but that during the four years this indebtedness had been met, and at the close of the period the resources exceeded the liabilities by $6,770.71.

Some questions were asked by the delegates concerning various features of the report, after which Elder A. G. Daniells expressed his gratification at the favorable showing made by the report of the treasurer, and suggested that at a later time he would take time for consideration of some of its features. On motion, the report was unanimously adopted. The Conference then adjourned, the benediction being pronounced by Elder L. R. Conradi.